After reciting the first tashahhud,
it is Sunnah to invoke prayers upon the Prophet. Shaykh al-Albaanee stated that the
Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to invoke prayers on himself in the
first tashahhud as well as the other.[1]
The proof is the hadeeth of Aa’ishah who said: “We used to prepare for the Messenger
of Allaah his tooth stick and water for purification. Allaah would wake him
during the night for as much as He willed. He would use the tooth stick and
make ablution. Then he would pray nine rak’ahs and he would not sit during any
of them except the eight one. He would supplicate to his Lord and invoke
prayers upon His Prophet. Then he would rise and not make the salutation. Then
he would pray the ninth rak’ah, sit and then praise his Lord, pray for His Prophet,
supplicate and then make the salutations...’[2]
According to Shaykh al-Albaanee, this is a clear text which shows that it is
legislated to invoke prayers upon the Prophet in other than the last tashahhud.
It is also legislated to
supplicate after the first tashahhud, Ibn Mas’ood narrated that the Prophet
said, “When you sit after every two rak’ah, say, ‘All compliments, prayers
and pure words are due to Allaah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon
the righteous servants of Allaah. I bear witness that none is worthy of worship
except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Then he may choose whatever supplication he likes and supplicate to his Lord
with it.”[3]
Source: Al-Wajeez fee Fiqh
as-Sunnah wal-Kitaab al-‘Azeez, p. 117 by Dr. Abdul-Azeem bin Badawee
